Final Reprocess of M17 Sydney Skies

[Startrek]

You can spend a lifetime reprocessing old data but if your not satisfied with an image why not give it another whirl

This time culled a few more subs early on the capture at low altitudes
Total now 61 x 3 minute with calibration frames

In DSS selected “No Background Calibration” which is a prerequisite for Startools ( before I selected Per Channel Background Calibration )

Processed in Startools V1.7
Used Compose to load the data set into the three NB channels and selected NB OSC Bi colour option

This time applied a mask over the main structure before Wipe to apply sample revocation where it doesn’t look for background and therefore yields better results.

Colour module used an SHO preset in the Matrix

More satisfied with this result

Fed up with this ongoing inclement weather on the east coast of NSW ( when is it ever going to end )

Comments welcome
Thanks

[Stephane]

Martin, this is a great M17. I really like the colours you have obtained in this image. The stars look great, and there is some fine detail in the nebula!

[Startrek]

Thanks Stephane

[AstroViking]

What Stephane said - a relaxing and muted colour scheme with great detail in the gas & dust clouds. Well done.


Cheers,
V

[Dave882]

Lovely shot Martin. Beautiful detail :thumbsup:

[gb44]

Nice one Martin.

Its a new take on the neb for me - I'd not seen the part to the rhs before and I thought the "Swan" name came from the shape of the brighter region (of the body?), but now I can see the neck and head clearly. Or am I confused?

Thanks also for the StarTools note on reusing Autodev after Wipe in another post. I had been using FilmDev but now see the increased area of signal/nebulosity that I was missing.

Cheers
GlennB

[Startrek]

Thanks Dave,
I don’t usually bother with a 2nd reprocess but I think it was worth while
Cheers
Martin

[Startrek]

Thanks Steve
Appreciate your time and comments

[Startrek]

Thanks Glenn
I’m sure the name Swan came from either a visual observation or short exposure where only the bright core areas were seen. It does look like a Swan , well sort of ?

Now Startools …..
I’ve hardly ever used FilmDev as it’s just a uniform stretch across the whole image and it always blows out detail in nebula or core areas of galaxies etc…
AutoDev has superior algorithms to expose detail and brightness where it is required. You have more control over the stretch and attributing dynamic range where it’s most useful across the image. I always apply and adjust a ROI ( region of interest) around the main structure and tweak “ignore fine detail” , “shadow linearity” and “Outside ROI”

First AutoDev stretch is to inspect image for stacking artefacts and other anomalies, then
Bin if you oversampled
Crop to crop out stacking artefacts etc…
Wipe to remove all types of gradients
2nd AutoDev for final stretch to expose detail from your hard work
Then Contrast , HDR , Sharpen and so on ……. Until colour and then final noise reduction.

Cheers
Martin

[gregbradley]

Another good image from you.. I take it you used a OSC camera?

You've been putting out consistently good images for some time.

Might be time to take the next step and use a mono and dedicated narrowband filters as the OSC, whilst it does quite well, leaves possibilities on the table.

There's always another level up.

Greg.

[Startrek]

Thanks Greg
Appreciate the lovely comments and encouragement
Yes I’ve been using the 2600MC since August 2020 and enjoying every session.
Mono is on the cards in the future but the Finance Minister ( missus ) is eager to travel sometime next year and I’ve just spent a wack of money on the new EQ8-R pro mount , 10” f5 Klaus Helmerich Carbon fibre Newt ,guiding set up and coma corrector etc…

Cheers
Martin